The Rise and Fall of Kai.
Chapter One.
A/N: Hey people, here's the sequel. I'm planning on trying to aim this through the Furious Five's PoV but in some parts of this story that won't be possible. For those people out there that wants Kai to get hurt there's going to be a lot of that in this sequel with some Po/Tigress and maybe Crane/Viper but time is rolling on. So without further more to say. Enjoy –Cobra
Slowly trekking they're way back through the starry night sky, six figures tiredly made their way south. As the wind blew it rustled against the trees creating a serene peaceful state across the land but nothing ever stays peaceful. A load grumble was heard overriding the tranquil state.
"Po for the love of the gods, we just ate a few hours ago." An orange feline hastily lead the group from the front looking even more agitated by the passing second.
"It's not my fault, maybe if you didn't walk so quick I might not be hungry." The large black and white panda was out of breath with shallow breathing and was in danger of being left behind.
The orange stripped feline just scoffed before stopping as she turned around and saw the giant panda stumbling his way up to her and the others she couldn't help but feel an amused smirk adorn across her face. Quickly she corrected that by scowling not wanting to show that Master Tigress could be so easily amused.
"Maybe if trained more, you wouldn't be so..."
"Fat?" the panda looked at the feline with a raised eyebrow.
Master Tigress looked stumped before her thoughts turned to anger 'Gods why does always do that? Put words in my mouth. If I thought he was disgusting I wouldn't be seeing him.' Scowling again at the panda.
"No, Dragon Warrior what I was going to say is you wouldn't be so tired all the time." Tigress always called him by his title to show that she was annoyed or angry with him. With that the feline turned around before walking again.
"If it makes you feel any better Dragon Warrior we can set up camp in a few minutes." Tigress kept her rigid appearance in front of the group to maintain the secret they've been keeping for a while.
As Tigress looked over the group she saw Mantis jabbing one of his legs into Monkey's back making him jerk involuntary 'When will Mantis grow up?' Eventually Tigress' eyes drifted towards Crane and Viper who were laughing and talking while being extremely close to one and another 'Same old Crane and Viper too shy to admit their feelings.' Eventually her eyes drifted to Po but looked away still annoyed at Po's incessant whining 'Least he doesn't whine as much as Kai.'
"Are we nearly there yet?" the panda always had timing issues.
'Okay he comes close.' Stopping on the spot Tigress spun on her heels instantly because of the speed Po couldn't react in time and had Master Tigress' face only a few centre meters from his.
"Say that once more Dragon Warrior...I DARE you...Say 'are we there yet' one more god damn time!" Tigress' eyes blazed crimson as she stared into his jade green eyes.
Crane stepped up trying to diffuse the situation
"Tigress mayb..."
Tigress snapped her head quickly to where Crane was glaring at him murderously.
Crane held his wings up backing down he wasn't brave enough or stupid enough to stand in Tigress' way when she was this angry.
Crane quickly whispered to Viper making sure Tigress couldn't hear as she returned her gaze back to the panda.
"This would be a good time to have Kai with us right Viper?" Viper only nodded and giggled before stifling her laugh as Tigress turned her attention to them.
"Care to explain the joke to the rest of us Crane?" Tigress' eyes looked like they could burn through metal.
Crane just stammered "Er...W-well...er we were discussing when erm Kai tripped up and fell into the gauntlet of warriors."
"How is that funny Crane?" Tigress didn't understand how that was funny and she had the idea that Crane was lying.
"You had to be there Tigress for it to be funny." She heard Mantis and Monkey snickering in the background 'Hmm must've been one of those moments' Tigress then turned her attention back to Po.
"Well?" Tigress crossed her arms waiting for his reply to her dare.
The panda just took in an exaggerated breath before closing his mouth showing that he wasn't going to speak.
Narrowing her eyes and walking forwards so she was whiskers away from him.
"Good."
With that she turned around and looked for a suitable place to rest for the night.
"Over there, there is a clearing in the forest we'll set up there."
As time passed and the camp was setup Po went to do what he did best, cooking. Tigress started a campfire before sitting down lotus position in front of the crackling fire. Once Tigress cleared her mind she heard Crane and Monkey talking.
"Crane don't you think it was weird that when we got to the village there wasn't a single threat they said was there? What if it was bait to draw us out and leave the Valley exposed?" Monkey didn't usually think about these sought of things it was usually Tigress. 'Now that you mention it, why did we get sent there?'
Tigress got up and walked over to the pair as she approached they went quiet.
"You might be right Monkey, but there's not a lot we can do if the Valley is under attack were about a day's walk... so tomorrow we'll be running the rest of the way." Tigress looked at the pair and noticed them nodding.
Crane trying to brighten the situation "At least Master Shifu and Kai were still left there to protect the Valley."
Tigress just scoffed at the idea of Kai protecting the Valley "He can barely hold a spar with any of us let alone fight armed bandits."
Monkey just laughed at Tigress underestimating him "Tigress, hand to hand combat yeah he kind of still sucks but give him a sword and he's amazing. He's beaten me multiple times with ease with that katana of his."
Tigress just sighed "One day he's going to be disarmed and then he'll be dead.'
Monkey gravely nodded at the feline's statement.
Crane just moved his wings before sighing. "He's going to need a lot of help on his Kung Fu and a lot of training time."
Viper slithered into the group before Mantis followed behind.
"Hey guys what are we discussing?" Viper always liked to hear any gossip within the group.
In unison they all said "Kai."
Viper just nodded before coiling herself in front of the fire to warm up "Ohhh...he's kind of cute for a teenager." Crane just looked at Viper like she had three heads growing and Tigress just coughed abruptly at the idea.
"Cute? If you mean annoying, self-centred, arrogant and stupid then I guess you're right." Tigress just shook the idea straight out of her head.
Viper looked amused before seeing Crane's face "Crane he's 18 for the gods sake. I'm like 7-8 years older than him and not to mention I'm a snake and he's a tiger okay?" Crane's look disappeared at her explanation.
Viper rolled her eyes "Men! Seriously cute doesn't always mean attractive."
Tigress cut in "Can we stop talking about Kai like this seriously?" Tigress shook her head trying to rid the conversation out of her head.
Viper just laughed "So what were you discussing about him?"
"That he'll be a dead white fur ball if we don't step up his training." Tigress saw Viper's face drop as this subject was important to all of them.
"I see well he's learning your style Tigress which means you have to step up the training." Tigress just nodded however something caught Tigress attention. There was delightful smell coming from behind her she didn't have to guess what it was.
"Order up!" Po then placed each bowl in front of the Five before sitting down himself and eating while they had small talks with each other Tigress was drifting off in her thoughts about the safety of the Valley.
Crane snapped Tigress out of her thoughts to go over the plan tomorrow.
"Tomorrow we will be leaving at first light and running back to the Valley and yes Dragon Warrior I said running which means running not jogging or walking." With that remark Mantis snickered.
"Awww why?" Po pouted.
Tigress looked at him just shaking her head at his immaturity 'ugh and he's my boyfriend I sure know how to pick em.'
"The Valley could be in danger Dragon Warrior, didn't you think it was strange as to there were no bandits in that village as we were lead to believe?"
Tigress could see the cogs turning in his head before realising what she was suggesting.
"Oooh" Po had a brief moment of clarity
"That's why we need to get back to the Valley fast." Tigress went back to eating her soup before it went cold.
After a while the group slowly left and Tigress and Po were still sitting by dying flame.
Tigress was once again back in thoughts but this time on training schemes and how to help Kai improve.
Po looked around and noticed Tigress staring into the dying flame unaware of anything going on around her. Po then tried to snap her out of it.
"Hey Tigress?" thinking she didn't hear him Po got up and moved closer.
"Hey Tigress?" Po waved a paw in front of her face before he heard a distinctive growl.
"Get your paw out of my face Dragon Warrior." The feline placed a lot of emphasis on his title almost making it sound like an insult.
The big panda just sighed and dropped to the floor. "What's with the constant use of my title Tigress? You know I don't like to be called that."
"You full well know why and when I use your title." Tigress refused to look at Po.
"Aw C'mon Tigress what did I do this time?" Po tried to get Tigress to look at him by moving his paw towards her but with her instincts she used her tail to smack his paw away.
"You know full well that when you constantly say 'are we there yet' that it gets on my nerve. I swear it seems you're taking lessons from Kai in how to annoy me." Tigress still didn't look at Po.
"Aw C'mon Ti, you know I don't mean too" Po tried to reach out and place his paw on her shoulder only to be swept away by her tail again.
"Po you know I don't like people touching me." Tigress looked at Po this time seeing his face drop.
"Even me?" Po was a bit sad feeling as if their relationship had still gone nowhere.
"Po...I-I" Po got up and turned around but before he left.
"Goodnight Master Tigress." Tigress winced at him calling her by her title. He never called her 'Master' after the Tai Lung incident.
As she watched the large panda move to his mat she sighed before mentally scolding herself for being so harsh. 'I'll make it up to him somehow'
Tigress decided it would be best to get some sleep before tomorrow hopefully she won't need her full strength.
As morning broke out Tigress could hear the gong from the Jade Palace. As the feline rose from her slumber she could see Monkey and Crane already packing their stuff and Mantis moaning to Viper about something unimportant.
Noticing one of the group was missing specifically a certain panda. "Crane where is Po?"
Crane looked at the sleepy tiger. "Oh he said something about a head start and he'll see you in the Jade Palace he wanted to check in on his dad."
Tigress woke up fully when she heard that Po left before them.
"And you just let him go alone!" Crane raised his wings in defence.
"Whoa, Whoa easy Tigress, we didn't exactly SEE him leave, he left a note under my hat. How he managed to sneak out like that is still a mystery."
Tigress hastily packed her things and got ready to charge the last distance to the Valley.
Seeing everyone was ready Tigress dropped to all fours and charged off with the Five keeping up behind her.
As Tigress was sprinting she leapt over logs and pot-holes in the ground and felt the wind brush against her fur as the remaining distance was getting shorter and shorter and as scenery was blasting past Tigress. Something caught her eye, a figure in the corner of her eye.
Tigress came to a stop to see it was a canine coming from where the Valley was. He was injured and limping. As she closed the distance down the wolf saw her approaching and his eyes widened in fear. As Tigress got closer she could smell the fear induced sweat pouring off of him as he turned to walk off. she noticed an impressive slash on the back of his leg where his hamstring would've been. 'Guess that's the reason for the limp. It looks a day old.'
Remembering where he came from Tigress realized that canines were banned from the Valley and for good reasons. Most of them were bandits or corrupt individuals that cared little for others outside their packs.
Pushing the thought of the lone wolf out of her head the feline kept charging down towards where the Valley would be as she got closer he heart pounded more and more but as she turned the last corner she felt relieved to see everyday life going on in the Valley.
"Looks like nothing happened." Crane landed next to Tigress before spreading out his wings again.
"That doesn't explain why that wolf was leaving the Valley with a slash mark on the back of his leg. Maybe something did happen but Master Shifu dealt with them." Tigress inhaled a few deep breaths.
"Or maybe Kai did." Monkey walked off down the hill towards the Valley.
Eventually the group reached the Valley and made their way through the crowd that was gathering around Mr. Pings shop.
"Po must be in there." Mantis hopped off the shoulder and raced to the door before his face dropped.
"Er guys I don't think Po is in here." Tigress walked past the crowd before seeing some Jade Palace staff disposing of four dead canine bodies and scrubbing the caked-in blood off the walls and floor.
"What the hell happened here?" Tigress walked further in to look at the bodies.
Monkey was the next to walk in before laughing "HA! I told you Kai could've done it!"
Tigress looked at the bodies and noticed a huge gash where one of canine's throat would be. As Tigress surveyed the damage she couldn't help but let her mind wander. 'Why Mr. Ping's restaurant? Out of all the places.'
*At the Jade Palace*
As Kai sat down in his room he delved into his bag pulling out a cloth that he used for cleaning his sword. As Kai pulled out the blood stained sword he remembered the fight as if it just happened. Slowly Kai started cleaning his blade as he had a feeling he wouldn't be able to maintain it for a while.
After every stroke with the cloth Kai slipped further into his thoughts. 'I killed four people and seriously injured another and I feel...nothing. Not the slightest bit of remorse or guilt. Is this normal?'
Kai started seeing the silver gleam off of the sword once again as blood red colour transferred over to the cloth he was using. As he finished cleaning his sword he sheathed it before getting up and briefly pacing his room.
Deciding it would be best to get fresh air he decided for a trip down into the village as he slowly left the barracks he looked around for anything to take his mind off things but he found nothing.
As he made his way to the main gate of the palace he noticed Po and Mr. Ping talking and walking along Po seemed upset. Kai made a mental note to ask him why later. 'Hmm maybe the Five are busy talking to Shifu.' Thinking he could sneak out for a walk he opened the gate and started to make his way down.
As Kai looked ahead he noticed five figures. He didn't even have to look any closer he knew who they were.
"Hey Kai." Monkey was always the first to greet him.
"Hey Monkey how'd your uneventful trip go?" Kai smirked at knowing it was a lure to leave the Valley.
"Yeah went great. You know listen to Po whine, Tigress snapping at him it was like watching two lovers." As Monkey finished there was an audible menacing growl which made Monkey back up. Kai just laughed 'Oh if only you knew Monkey'
Kai stopped laughing when his eyes fell on Tigress who was giving him a menacing look that clearly said 'shut up or die'
"Sounds...fun Monkey... anyway I'm going to err go now." With that the white tiger nimbly jumped over Monkey.
"And where do you think you're going?" Kai winced at the tone of the voice only one person could make a statement so cold.
"I was going to err take a walk." Kai could feel the heat beating down on his neck as he turned around Tigress looked him over.
"Without your cloak and sword?" Tigress folded her arms across her chest.
"Why would I err need those, I'm only going for a walk." Kai started looking at the others who also looked perplexed at the observation.
Monkey was Kai's closest friend and knew him better than anyone else "Kai you always take your sword everywhere you go."
The white feline looked at his hip "Err yeah strange that heh." Kai started nervously laughing but stopped when Tigress took a step towards him.
Tigress narrowed her eyes at him and watched him squirm. A good sign he's not telling everything. "So there's nothing else I should know?"
"No...Not really." Kai wanted to get a break before Shifu told Tigress she could do whatever she wanted with him in training.
"What do you mean by 'not really'" Tigress knew there was more to this Kai wanted to let on.
"Ask Master Shifu I'm sure he will tell you." Kai turned to leave but felt a grip on the scruff of his neck. It felt as if it was his first day all over again.
"Well since you know, you can tell me now." Tigress felt Kai try to break out of the grip. Tigress remembered this scene before from when he first came here. Tigress just tightened her grip before using her strength to lift him off the ground.
"Seriously? Guys a little help." Mantis just laughed at the white feline being lifted up like a ragdoll.
Viper looked at Crane before chuckling.
Monkey felt sorry for Kai being man-handled.
"Jesus Tigress how the hell are you this strong." Kai was wriggling frantically to get her to put him down.
Tigress couldn't help but laugh at the site of the white feline kicking around like a little cub. "Well when you have to throw Po around you tend to build muscles." Tigress stopped laughing when she remembered why she picked him off the floor.
"Kai. You can either tell me or you can do Po's 'favourite past time'." When mentioning Po's favourite past time she swung him ready to drop him down the stairs. With an evil smile the orange feline knew he got the point.
"Aw c'mon you wouldn't really do that..." Kai felt her grip loosen "Or maybe you would! Besides you drop me down these stairs and I'll be out of action for months but I guess that would save me from the training..." Kai kept ranting on about something about being saved from training that Shifu harshly put on him.
"What training?" Tigress was curious now that Kai was really considering about either being dropped down the stairs or this 'training'
Kai all of a sudden stopped his thinking out loud before looking at Tigress with wide eyes. "Could you at least give me a break?"
Tigress was confused. "That depends if you don't tell me in the few seconds..."
"Shifu said I have to train with you until he is happy that I've learnt something." With that Kai quickly dropped down ready to run.
Tigress heard that nice and clearly and flipped in front of him and grabbed his arm twisting it behind his back making sure he went nowhere.
"Well seeing as that's the case. You won't be going on that walk..." Kai just groaned before being pushed up the few stairs to the courtyard.
"Well I can't sit in the palace and do nothing!" Kai started to get moody being pent up in the Palace.
Tigress pushed him and as a result he landed face first into the courtyard floor.
"I didn't say anything about not doing anything. Instead of walking...we're going to spar." Kai's felt his whole body feel cold when she said that.
"Aw C'mon Tigress..." Tigress whacked him.
"You'll use my proper title Kai!"
Kai smirked "Well in that case you need to use mine as well."
Tigress just growled. "Fine, Master Kai...even though you're not much of one...I take it your ready."
Kai just smiled at his verbal victory. "That's much be... *Crack*...OWWW"
While Kai was gloating Tigress launched a stiff straight punch to his smug face. As Tigress' fist went into his nose she felt the bone crack. As she planned the smug expression was totally wiped off his face and replaced with a disorientated expression. While disorientated Tigress decided to sweep kick his feet away. Kai felt his feet being taken out from under him and for a moment he felt weightless until something hard hit him square in the chest sending him across the arena. As Kai hit the floor he skidded along by the sheer force of the attack before his back struck against the stone wall of the courtyard taking all his breath.
Tigress looked at Kai shaking her head. "Master Kai it seems you haven't learnt anything since you've been here...maybe if you focused on Kung Fu rather than your sword you wouldn't be in this state."
Kai just groaned in pain. He didn't bother trying to get up; he knew if he did Tigress would put back in the ground harder.
"This...isn't...spar...sparring" Kai panted between breaths.
Tigress raised her eyebrow before casually walking over to the white feline except his face near his muzzle was red stained by blood and dripping onto his body.
"How so? I'm a master and so are you." Tigress bent down to eye level to Kai who just looked at her with pain written across his face.
"Sparring...most people...walk away...from i'd *cough* call...this a demolishing session."
Tigress punched him playfully hard on the shoulder and got a groan of pain. "Man-up Kai, besides this in only the start."